VIDEO: Old Naira Notes Remain Legal Tender – Supreme Court • Soji Akanbi Hails Judicial Decision

VIDEO: Old Naira Notes Remain Legal Tender – Supreme Court • Soji Akanbi Hails Judicial Decision.

The Supreme Court has said its February 8 order barring the Federal Government and its agencies from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes still subsist.

The court made the clarification on Wednesday following complaint by lawyer to Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) that the Fed Govt and its agencies have failed to comply with the order and have allegedly directed the rejection of the old notes.

Abdulhakeem Mustapha – Counsel for the States speaking after a brief hearing was held as regards the case on the naira swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stated that,”The Old Naira note lifespan has been extended to 22nd February 2023 as a legal tender, while the order of the Central Bank Governor is inconsequential.

Mustapha maintained that the plaintiff filed a notice of none-compliance with the order of the court order made on February 8. And demanded that the court take action against the respondent to protect the dignity of the court.

He added: “That order has been flouted by the government. We are talking of executive lawlessness here. We have filed an affidavit to that effect…We want the court to renew the order for parties to be properly guided.”

Justice John Okoro, who presided over a seven-member panel of the court, asked Mustapha to filed a proper application to put forward his complaints and to enable the respondent respond appropriately.

Justice Okoro said there was no need for a renewal of the court’s order.

He noted that, since the order made by the court on February 8 was made pending the determination of the motion for injunctions filed by the plaintiff, the order still subsists since the motion was not yet heard.

The court had, in the February 8 ruling, said: “after a careful consideration of this ex-parte application, and the grounds in support of same, this court finds that there is real urgency for this court to intervene by the grant of this application.

“Accordingly, this application is hereby granted as prayed.

“That is to say, an order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and/or the commercial banks, its agents; agencies, corporations, ministries, parastatals, organizations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) still subsist.

The Supreme Court has however fixed February 22 for hearing of the suit filed Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states challenging the propriety the naira swap policy of the Federal Government.

The court chose the date after joining the Attorneys General of Katsina Lagos, CR, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Sokoto states as co-plaintiffs in the earlier suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.

The court also joined the Attorneys General of Edo and Bayelsa states as co-respondents. Both states elected to side with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) originally listed as the sole respondent.

The court ordered that the suits filed by separately by Nasarawa, Rivers and Kano states on the same issue be consolidated with the one filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.

The court ordered parties to file all necessary documents before the hearing set for next Wednesday.

Justice Okoro, before adjourning, told lawyer to the AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN) to advise his client to ensure the availability of currency for the people.

“Tell your client to let people have money. If they go to the ATM and the plaintiffs will come and withdraw the case. Make money available to the poor masses.

“You should know that a hungry man is an angry man. I say no more,” he said.

Responding, Agabi said Nigerians were only blaming the government for their poverty.

“Many people don’t have money. They blame it on the Fed Govt and the AGF. I don’t have money too.

“Things have been bad for long. It is not today that the problems started,” Agabi said.

Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello of Kaduna and Kogi states were in court to witness proceedings.

Soji Akanbi reacts.

While reacting to the verdict, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi hailed the judgement and maintained that the judicial arm of government has proved it once again that they are truly the hope of the hopeless and the hope of common men on the street.”People can now spend their hard earned money with ease. Kudos to the Judiciary.

Akanbi advised Central of Nigeria(CBN) under the watch of Godwin Emefiele to be law-abiding and responsible.”Any law or policy that takes people for grant is an instrument of tyranny. People are suffering,even, to get access to the token they’ve is a problem and CBN is acting as if nothing is happening. This is so bad. CBN must act and obey court order.

Sen. Akanbi lauded visionary, pro-people and charismatic mode of leadership of the All Progressives Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially, on these ongoing currency swap struggles and many others. He saluted Nigerians’ tenacity and encourage the electorates to remain determined and cast their votes for former Lagos state governor, come February 25.